The Public Relations Officer of Aayalolo Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Justice K. Safo, has disclosed that about 12 buses belonging to the mass transit service are currently undergoing repairs, as persistent traffic congestion and a reduced fleet continue to undermine the system’s efficiency.

Speaking onAccra-based Channel One TV on Friday, January 16, Mr Safo said the operational challenges are affecting Aayalolo’s core mandate of easing traffic congestion in major urban centres.

He explained that buses meant to operate on dedicated lanes are frequently caught in general traffic, significantly affecting turnaround times.

According to him, journeys that were previously expected to take about one hour are now lasting between two and three hours on return trips, reducing the number of daily trips each bus can make.

Mr Safo further attributed part of the challenge to a reduction in the fleet size.

Of the 245 buses initially delivered for Aayalolo operations, 72 were reassigned by the previous Transport Ministry to other metropolitan areas, including Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi and Tamale.

“We have been in operation for about 10 years, so it is only natural that some of the buses will be grounded.

Some have been involved in accidents, and fewer than 10 are currently at the workshops for such cases,” he said.

He added that as of Thursday, between 12 and 13 buses across various corridors had been sent to workshops for maintenance and repairs.

Despite the challenges, Mr Safo stressed that Aayalolo remains committed to delivering efficient mass transit services but will require additional support and improved traffic management measures to effectively fulfil its mandate.